Coat of Arms of Pepys

Welcome to "The Pepys One Name Study". My name is Andrew
Prescott and my interest is in the name "Pepys" or its variations -
which are numerous. The main variations that appear to have lasted into the
19/20th centuries are primarily "Peeps," and also, "Peaps" and "Peapes" and
even 'Papes'. The name "Pipes" may also be connected but the link is
probably lost in the earlier period before records.

The reason I am interested in the name "Pepys" is that my
mother was a "Pepys". Her 19th century ancestors used the spelling "Peeps",
and their immediate ancestors most often were 'Peapes' or 'Peaps'. It was
commonly believed in the family that the Peeps were related to the Pepys and
several of the families changed the spelling in the middle of the 20th century
to Pepys. I have little doubt that this connection is correct, but the evidence
remains circumstantial. These Norfolk families are found in the same group
of parishes where two branches of the Pepys family were based in the 16th
century; that is the area of the Burnhams, and South Creake - the area generally
within the Brothercross Hundred and/or Docking district. There are at least
two generations between the Pepys of Burnhams and the Peaps/Peapes of the
Burnhams. But several of the parish registers of the Burnhams are as yet unexplored,
and I still hope that the missing links will be found. Most of the families
of Pepys of Cambridge and Norfolk are linked except for a few stray individuals.
Most of the surviving families of Peeps/Peapes/Peaps/Pepys of Norfolk are
also linked. But George Peeps born about 1690 of Lynn remains unlinked.

The main published genealogies of the Pepys families are:
Genealogy of the Pepys Family 1273-1887, Pepys, Walter Courtenay, 1840-(Main
Author), Frederick Muller, reprinted by Barnes and Noble. Available on microfilm
from LDS. Eight Generations of the Pepys Family, 1500-1800 Chappell, Edwin.
London, 1936 (Private Publication).

I used these as the basis of my own own compilations. However, I have been
able to add to these, and in few cases found some areas of inconsistency,
and made amendments - which are detailed below.

Walter Courtenay Pepys states that: "considering the number of years -more
than six hundred-for which there is positive proof that the name has existed
in England, the number of persons bearing it is curiously small." He goes
on to say that he has searched every directory and (perhaps revealingly),
"nor have I ever heard of the name occurring among those classes not generally
included in Directories." Nowadays there are some dozen people by the name
of Peeps, and a similar number by the name Pepys, evenly distributed between
the US and UK. There are also some families of Australia but my information
on living members is limited.

There are a large number of variations in spelling of Pepys,
considering the relatively small number of people. Walter Courtenay Pepys
lists 17 "misspellings" and their earliest occurence. The various (mis)spellings
of the name often occur in alternate versions of records for the same person;
for example, three different spellings in one document.

The following is from Walter Courtenay and Edwin Chappell with earliest
unlinked individual. Earliest Use

1 The various spellings Pipes, Pipys, Pypes, Pypys, would seem
to suggest that the modern "Pipes" are a related variation. In fact Pipes
is a much more widespread name and this could even lead one to wonder if "Pepys"
is actually a subset of "Pi(y)pes". Pipes are mainly found a little further
north than the Pepys (Chesterfield) and so Pypes and Pepys may have split
from common source in an early period. 2 The families that appear as "Papes" also appear as "Peapes" and
"Peaps" in the same records. There may be some families by this name in other
parts of the country who may have different origins.3 Early Essex Branch - link to other Pepys is not known.

According to WCP the modern accepted spelling of "Pepys" did not become standard
until the end of the seventeenth century; although, in use much earlier. The
spelling "Pepys" appears in the Visitation of Norfolk, 1585, and in the "Visitation
of Cambridge, 1684.

There have also been various ways of pronouncing the name Pepys, WCP mentions
"Peps", "Peeps", and "Peppis". He says that the Diarist pronounced it "Peeps"
as do the lineal descendants of his sister Paulina, the family of Pepys-Cockerell.
The other branches of the family all pronounce it "Peppis" which WCP considers
to be "correct" because of the early spelling and the French origins as "Pepy".
However he may have been mistaken in his assumptions about pronunciation based
upon spelling. According to the Oxford Dictionary it appears that in early
English the word peep/peeps (like a bird song) was written a variety of ways
such as "pepe" and even "pepys".

Notable People:
There are a number of notable individuals of the Pepys families. The most
well known is the diarist Samuel Pepys.
There is also William Hasledine Pepys, Richard Pepys Lord Chief Justice of
Ireland, and the Earls of Cottenham. William Henry Peeps of North Carolina
architect.Return to top

Modern dictionaries of names suggest that Pepys is from the Old
French personal name Pepis (nominative form), oblique case Pepin, introduced
to Britain by the Normans. It may have originally been a by-name meaning "terrible"
or "awe-inspiring." from the German verb root "bib" - to tremble. It was the
name of several Frankish kings including Pepin le Bref, father of Charlemagne,
and remained popular throughout the early middle ages. Variants Pep(p)in, Pippin,
Pipon.. The first English mention is Ralph and Henry Pipin in the Domesday book
for Leicestershire 1086, and John Pepin, c. 1160 in Lincolnshire

Walter Courtenay Pepys says that the name "Pepys" came from the French "Pepy",
"Pepie", "Peppe" or "Pepe". One theory is that it originates from the Languedoc
where is found the name "Pepyons" in 1292. WCP goes on to describe the correspondence
that he had with a French Pastor M.Pepy who writes that the families of Languedoc
have a tradition that their origins were Italian, where are found the names
"Pepi" "Pepe" or "Peppe". I suspect that this was purely speculation based
upon the coincidence of names. A search of the IGI will reveal many similar
European names: What this may reveal is a common linguistic origin (i.e. for
the same reason that Smith is the most common name in much of Europe) but
not necessarily a common family origin.

The Dictionary of Surnames by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges:
Oxford University Press. The Dictionary of English Surnames By P.H.Reaney
& R.M Wilson. The Penquin Dictionary of Surnames by Basil Cottle.

Earliest English Origin.

The following is taken from a 1930's newspaper clipping that I have:

"According to Whatley's account of Samuel Pepys 'the family
of Pepys is one of considerable antiquity in the east of England.'
A 'Pepis' and a 'Pepes' held land in Cambridgeshire back in Edward I's time.
[1272-1307].

[Ric Pepis holds one messauge and one rood of land of the same G. He pays
a halfpenny for the lot.
John Pepes holds of the said Prioress one plot and half a rood by rent to
her of eightpence, and three fisheries of the value of three pence, and
the same Prioress holds them of her own.
- Translation by WCP from the Rotuli Hundredorum (Edw. 1., 1273)]

Before the war of the roses, another was bailiff to the Abbot of Crowland.
In 1563 the name of Thomas Pepys of South Creake in Norfolk is found entered
in the Herald's Visitation of that year, among the gentry bearing coat-armour.

William Pepys the Abbot's bailiff, had three sons and three
daughters. From the eldest son descended the first Norfolk branch.
From the second came the Pepyses of South Creake, and from the third the
ancestors of Samuel Pepys.

Samuel's paternal great aunt Paulina made what was to prove
a doubly fortunate marriage. Her husband was Sir Sidney Montague,
who purchased Hichingbroke (by Huntingdon) from Oliver Cromwell's uncles
and godfather. Their eldest son, Sir Edward, became one of the Protector's
chief Admirals. He played a principal part in the Restoration of Charles
II and was created Earl of Sandwich..."

Note: I have standardized
all names to "Pepys" even though this did not become the norm until the later
1700s, For the later lines of Peeps/Peaps/Peapes etc.,, I have kept to the
most consistent spelling from records.

Overview of Genealogy, various family lines that at present
cannot be linked into one. Names shown without links are included in the main
genealogy. The families and lines that have their own links are separate files
at present.

Amendments/Additions/Comments (included are a description of differences
between my findings and the published genalogies):

Thomas Pepys abt.1389 and Robert Pepys abt. 1440 are mentioned in some early
genealogies, but there is little to verify them, so they must be considered
apocryphal. William Pepys of Cottenham abt. 1464 is the earliest Pepys who
is well established in records.

John Peppes of Branktree abt. 1462 is a contemporary of William of Cottenham
but it is not known if they are brothers.

Richard Pepys abt.1512 is shown as 4th son of Robert abt.1440 in the Visitation
of Norfolk, but parish registers would support all other authors who place
him as son of Thomas abt.1490

William Pepys abt.1524 of Cottenham, son of William Pepys abt 1494 of Cottenham;
married Alice Smith of Wighton, Norfolk. Curiously there appear to be no records
of this line in Cottenham until a William who had children from 1609 in Cottenham.
Parish records show a generation length gap between these Williams. However,
there are indications of the possible history of this William There is a William
Pepys who had children in South Creake records in the 1540s. It is hard to
account for this William without positing another line from the previous generation.
And there is a William Pepys of Yaxham who had a son Robert born about 1649,
and William Jr. born about 1561. William Jr. was surrendered property by his
father in 1599 and who surrendered the property in Yaxham in 1606, just a
few years before the reappearance of a William in Cottenham records as above.
The names of the children born after 1606 are the same as the children of
William III given in genalogies but the dates would indicate another generation
in between. Although very strong almost compelling circumstantial evidence
I hesitate to make the connection without a more definite piece of evidence,
but sadly no will has yet come to light. (see below for more information on
these Williams).

Richard Pepys of Brisley abt.1584 married Frances is shown by Edwin Chappel
as a second marriage of Richard Pepys who married Maria Pleausance, but the
date of Maria's will and probate would conflict with the marriage and baptism
records in Brisley of children of Richard and Frances. I show this Richard
abt.1584 married Frances as son of Richard Pepys abt.1544 and Amy Shreve.

Richard Pepys abt.1589 is said to be son of William Pepys and Lucy Thurlow
and to be Richard of St. Bartholomews, is said to be the Richard that married
Ann Saunderson and Jane. However, the dates of children's' baptisms suggests
another generation is missing. Deeds of Burnham that mention Richard Pepys
Sr. and wife Mary suggest that Richard of St. Bartholomew could be son of
Richard Pepys who married Maria Pleasusance which would explain the following
deeds: "4 April, 1650. It was found, 19 Car. I., that W. Pepys surrendered
to the use of Richd. Pepys his son. Now comes said Richard, by William Thurlowe,
gent., his attorney, to be admitted to premises which the said Wm. Pepys took
up, 10 Oct., 3 James I., on the surrender of John Boston, gent. 8 Oct. 1661.
Tho. Thurlowe surrendered premises to the use of Richard Pepys, sen. Same
Court. Richard Pepys surrendered to the use of himself and Mary his wife,
and their heirs".

WCP showed Thomas Pepys the Younger, the Red to be the grandfather of Samuel
Pepys. Evidence is that the g-father of Samuel was Thomas Pepys the elder.
The will of John Pepys clearly indicates both Thomas Pepys the elder, the
black and Thomas the younger to be alive and have issue. Parish records differentiate
the children of Thomas and Kezia and Thomas and Mary.

WCP identified John Pepys son of Nicholas and Jane as having married Elizabeth
Spilman in 1694 Great Yarmouth. Marriage bond identifies him as John
Pepys of Norwich aged 30 which would seem to identify him as John son of William
Pepys and Mary Greenwood (see below).

Richard Pepys the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland married (2) Mary Gosnold.
Although Mary's baptism seems to be missing from the records the various wills
confirm that her father was Bartholomew Gosnold. There is a marriage
record of Mary Wincoll and Richard Pepes in Horringer in 1638. Mary
Pepys refers to her 'son Wincol his heyres' in her will. (Notable members
of this family have been recorded as Wyncoll). Mary refers to a watch
of her husband's bearing the Wincol arms which would seem to suggest that
her former husband was part of the notable family. Mary's mother nee Goldinge
had married (2) Jasper Sharpe and refers to her father in law Jasper
Sharpe in her will. Jasper Sharpe refer to his daughters 'in law' including
'Mary now the wife of Richard Pepys esq.". Richard Pepys may be the origin
of a Pepys family that appears in Irish records a generation later (see note
below).

Not linked in published genealogies:

Richard Pepys abt.1642 of St. Clement Norwich, married to Frances is not
linked as yet. Circumstantially could be connected to Richard Pepys and Frances
of Brisley (see above).

William Pepys 1628 who married Mary Greenwood is identified in marriage bond
as William Pepys of Norwich. Son of William Pepys abt. 1587 and Peace. According
to marriage bond this is probably the same William Pepys (wid.) who married
Mary Fletcher (wid.) in 1669 in St. Saviours Norwich. This is father of Isaac
Pepys 1666 Vintner of Norwich, brother of John Pepys who married Elizabeth
Spilman, thus explaining in the will of Elizabeth: "Elizabeth Pepys of
Yarmouth Widow. My Kinswoman Ann Pepys of Norwich, spinster, daughter of Isaac
Pepys, vintner deceased."

Thomas Pepys est.1627 of Norwich who married Ann Wheatley is identified in
marriage bond as Thomas Pepys of Brisley. This would seem to indicate that
he is son of Richard Pepys rector of Brisley and Frances (see above). Although
he does not appear in Richard's will the will may not be comprehensive as
it mainly assigns the MSS that he received from his nephew Richard Pepys of
Lynn to his son Samuel. The residue of his estate to his wife Frances. Thomas
was married a few years after this.

John Pepys 1655 of Norwich, married Elizabeth Barnfather is son of Thomas
above. Father of John Pepys of Norwich Public Notary, and Frances Pepys of
Norwich.

A Pepys of Dublin had at least two children. Captain Arthur Pepys born estimated
1667 his marriage and children in London. His son Urmston had military career.
Arthur Pepys refers in his will to his brother John, who may be the John recorded
as 'quartermaster of Athy' in Prerogative wills of Ireland.. It is possible
that he is one of the children of Richard Pepys the lord chief justice of
Ireland (see note above). Or perhaps a Pepys by 'adoption'. It seems odd that
such a notable family would have been missed form the published genealogies.
There are no grandchildren mentioned in the wills of Richard or his wife Mary.
John was married, but he and his wife died young. Samuel was living in Dublin
in 1659. It is possible that he married and had children in the 1660's.

George Peeps abt 1690 of Brancaster, the ancestor of the surviving Peeps/Pepys
of Norfolk is still not linked. His marriage bond identifies him as 'of Lynn',
but he does not appear in the records of the families of Lynn. One would expect
him to be most likely the son of Thomas Pepys of South Lynn and Susanna Butcher
but if so then the parish records may be incomplete.

Samuel Pepys (Peeps) 1695 son of Captain John Pepys and Elizabeth Spilman
is identified as the Samuel who married Ruth Cooper in South Walsham in 1716.
His brother Granger although said to be born in Great Yarmouth in 1700 has
not been found in local records. As 'Granger' is sometimes substituted for
'George' this is another possible link to George Peeps of Lynn and Brancaster
(see note above).

For many of the puzzles resolved I have to thank Naomi Haworth - but any
errors are mine.

AA. William Pepys abt 1494 married Alice m.abt. 1523
-1521 will of Thomas Pepys (son of William 1464) "To John Pepes and William
Pepes my kind bretheren."
-1541 will of John Pepys (son of William 1464): "To my brother William
Pepys. To my sister his wife. To William Pepys his son. To John his son. To
Thomas his son. To Richard his son. To Robert his son. To Kateryn Pepys his
daughter."

AAA. William Pepys abt.1524-
Talbot Pepys b.1583 wrote:
"A noate written out of an oulde booke by my uncle William Pepys"
"William Pepys who died in Cottenham 10 Henry VIII (1519) was brought
by the abbot of Crowland in Huntingdon, and he was born in Dunbar in Scotland,
a gentleman whom the said Abbot did make his bayliffe of all his lands in
Cambridgeshire, and placed him in Cottenham in Cambridgeshire, the which William
aforesaid had three sons."
"1 Thomas, . John, 3 William. to whom Margarett was mother naturlallie."
"1 And this Thomas Pepys had in Cottenham - Richard and Nicholas, who
died a student in London. "
"Richard had issue - Richard who had issue at Burnham), Nicholas, William
(who had issue), all born at Burnham Westgate in Norfolk."
"2 John. had issue. Thomas Pepys in Southcreake in Norfolk, who had issue
Fermer and John"
"3. William had issue in Cottenham (me) 1 William, 2 John, 3 Robert,
4 George."
"All of which have issue 17 Feb 1613"
1589 Will of John Pepys abt 1526 son of William 1524: "To William Pepys
son of my brother William Pepys."

It is not clear to me if the date of 1613 is William or Talbot. If Wiilliam
then it does not fit with the date of death of William below in 1599. But
it seems more likely that this is the date of Talbot's writing, then we assume
that William's original was written before 1599. I suggest that William may
have moved back to Cottenham, but his children remained in Yaxham, hence the
abscence of Cottenham records for this line.

South Creake Baptisms of sons of William
George 1543
Roger 1544
Yaxham (dates estimated from indications in deeds below)
Robert abt 1549
William 1561

Musters Yaxhm, 1569, 1572, 1574, 1577. - William Peaps gent.

Whinburgh on the part of Yaxham.
1566 -20 Oct"-, 8'^ Eliz., Burnham. - Bargain and sale by William Pepys
of Yaxham, gentleman, to Faunces Cobbe of Burnham West- gate, of messuages,
lands, tenements, &c., at the Staithe in Burnham Norton, and other houses
in Burnham Norton, and all his lands, tenements, &c., in Burnham Norton,
Burnham Westgate, and Burnham Depedale. - R. 42 and in d.
1574 Wm. Pepes admitted in the surrender of John Curle and Wm. Curle.
1574 Inquisito ex part Yaxham. Will'ms Pepes gen. Wm Pepes surrendered copyhold
in Yaxham, late of Henry Hastings, and which he had on surrender of Giles
Hastings [1567] apparently to Robert Pepes his son in fee.
1577 The said Robert Peapes surrendered the property which he was addmitted
to in [1574] late Henry Hastings on the surrender of Wm Peapes to the use
of the said Wm. Peapes in fee.
1578 Wm Pepys gent of Yaxham was Lord of the Manor of Cursons, Jartriggs,
Repps and Ileys now commonly called the Manor of Yaxham hall.
1579 The above copyholds, to which Wm Pepys gent was admitted on the surrender
of the said Robert Pepys were regranted to the said Wm Pepys and Eliz. his
wife and heirs of the said Wm.
1584: 20 May, 2&^ Eliz., Yaxham, &c. - Conveyance b}^ William Pepys
of Yaxham, gentleman, to Gregorye Pagrave of Thuxton, gentleman, of thirteen
acres of meadow in Yaxham, and the manor of Yaxham called Yaxham Hall, or
Yaxham Cursons, Jerbgs, Reppes, and Ilneys, with the rights, liberties, and
members, in Yaxham, Whinburghe, West- fild, Estdereham, and Matteshall, and
rents issuing from lands, &c., in the same parishes ; excepting the site
of the said manor and lands, pastures, &c., containing eighty acres in
Yaxham and Whinburgh, and other exceptions. - R. 81 and in d, and R. 82.
1599 The death of Wm. Pepys gent. presented and Wm Pepys admitted as his son
and next heir and of full age.
1606. John Maydewell, clerk, admitted on the surrender of the said Wm Pepes
the son, described as of Yaxham gent. and dated 31 Aug 1606.

It is suggestive that a Robert Peepes married Barbara Hulluck before 1599,
and had a child Robert in 1601 in Linton, Cambs.

Cottenham records Baptisms sons of William ('Wm Pepes the son') or another
generation on - i.e. perhaps it is the son of 'Wm Pepes the son' who had children
in Cottenham after 1606.
Robert 1609
Frances 1610
Eleanor 1610/11
Richard 1511
George 1612/13
Sarah 1614

SOURCES (include):

IGI
British Vital Records Index
FreeBMD
FreeReg
CENSUS: The following census records available on ancestry.com and some
other sources.

1841: UK Census - Some of the ledgers relating to the Kings Lynn
area have been destroyed by age. 1851: UK Census1861: UK Census1870: US Federal Census1871: UK Census1880: UK Census1881: The census is available on CDRom from the LDS1890: US Federal Census largely destroyed
1891: UK Census1900: US Federal Census
1901: UK Census1911: UK census1920: US Federal Census1930: US Federal Census1940: US Federal Census

PLACES

EAST ANGLIA:

East Anglia was an early kingdom of England and histrorically refers
to a region comprising Norfolk, Suffolk, and parts of Lincolnshire,
Cambridgeshire and Essex. And in modern times the counties of Norfolk
and Suffolk. Most Pepys have been located in this region apart from
those who moved to London.

Cambridge:

The earliest known Pepys were located in Cottenham and Impington.

Norfolk:

A county of the East of England, the location of two main branches
of the Pepys family in records.

Docking:

the name for the district of Norfolk that includes several parishes
known as the Burnhams, and also Brancaster, and Docking, the main location
of the Pepys of Norfolk.

BRANCASTER:

A village in north west Norfolk. The earliest of the 'Peep's appears
in Burnham records as 'of Brancaster'. The home of Admiral Nelson which
is of note considering some of the maritime connections of the Peeps.

BURNHAM:

Burnham is the name of a number of villages in north west Norfolk
where the "1st Norfolk branch" of Pepys was established.&nbsp Also the
baptism place of some of the Peepses from 1720s on.

KINGS LYNN:

Kings Lynn (formerly Lynn Regis) is a town in north west Norfolk.
There appear to have two periods when Pepys families were located in
Kings Lynn. It is the home or birth place of most Peepses in 1851 and
1881 censuses.

SOUTH CREAKE:

South Creake is a small village in the north coastal region of Norfolk,
England. It is in Brothercross Hundred that also includes North Creake
and the various Burnhams. It was here that was found the "2nd
Norfolk Branch" of Pepys.

Other areas of the country or world

So far I know of a few "stray" Peeps/Peapes/Peaps in Lincolnshire,
Northumberland, Durham, Kent, Essex, and Devon. Most of these were born
in Norfolk. In England many of the places where Peeps are located in 1881
are connected with the sea: Woolwich, Greenwich, Newcastle, Devonport.

There are some Peeps in the U.S.A. mainly in Michigan and Ohio, who are
descended from the Peeps of Norfolk. There are Peapes and Peaps families
in Australia.